Construction apparatus



Jan. 16, 1968 c. A. DENNIS CONSTRUCTION APPARATUS Filed April 20, 1965 5 Sheets-Shee t l 16, 1968 c. A. DENNIS A 3,363,874

CONSTRUCT ION APPARATUS Filed April 20. 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 14" 7 axxil Jan. 16, 1968 c. A'. DENNIS CONSTRUCTION APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 20, 1965 III I [If r r I United States Patent 3,363,874 CUNS'IRUQTION APPARATUS Clarence A. Dennis, 127 N. Dearborn St., Chicago, Ill. 60602 Filed Apr. 20, 1965, Set. N0. 449,507 15 Claims. (Cl. 249-17) The present invention relates to construction apparatus and, more specifically, to a device for controlling the diameter of an outer form sheet utilized in the construction of cylindrical structures such as chimney columns.

Modern concrete chimneys are constructed with the outer surface thereof being tapered between the top and bottom. The concrete is poured in vertical sections between an annular outer form sheet and an annular inner form sheet, the form sheets being vertically raised or eX- tended to allow for the pouring of subsequent sections. In order to provide the desired taper, the diameter of the outer form sheet must be reduced for each subsequent section poured. For this purpose, a diaphragm is generally provided which surrounds the outer form sheet and has means associated therewith for adjustably controlling the diameter of the outer form sheet.

Present conventional diaphragms are generally in the form of annular rings having a prescribed, fixed diameter. The control means associated therewith generally include support brackets mounted on the diaphragm having circular apertures provided therein, a circular threaded rod extending through each aperture and having a gripping member at one end thereof adapted to grippingly engage the outer form sheet, and threaded means threaded onto each rod for engaging the associated support bracket to maintain the rod in a desired position relative to the diaphragm and being threadable relative to the rod to cause the rod to move relative to the diaphragm to vary the diameter of the outer form sheet relative to the diameter of the diaphragm. With this arrangement, the diaphragm is easily distorted. Moreover, the amount that the diameter of the outer form sheet may be varied is limited by the length of the rods since the diaphragm has a fixed diameter. Additionally, the rods are often pivoted relative to the apertures during a chimney constructing operation and the threads on the rods are damaged so that it is difiioult and sometimes impossible to thread the threaded means on the rod to vary the diameter of the outer form sheet. It is a principal object of this invention to provide a more flexible device, in its uses, for controlling the diameter of the outer form sheet which overcomes these problems. Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide new and improved chimney construction apparatus. More specifically, it is an object to provide such apparatus employing a polygonal diaphragm which allows for varying the diameter of an outer form sheet without distorting the diaphragm. Moreover, it is an object to provide such apparatus wherein the polygonal diaphragm has an adjustable diameter.

Another more specific object is to provide such apparatus wherein new and improved means are provided for varying the diameter of the outer form sheet relative to the diameter of the diaphragm. In this connection, it is an object to provide new and improved means including threaded rods for varying the diameter of the outer form sheet relative to the diameter of the diaphragm which prevents damage to the threads on the rods.

A general object is to provide such apparatus characterized in its simplicity and economy, which device may be readily adjusted in field operations.

In an exemplary form of the present invention, a new and improved device is provided for use with an annular outer form sheet in the construction of a cylindrical structure such as a chimney column, wherein the form sheet has a variable diameter. The device includes a plurality of extended support members connected together to form a polygonal diaphragm surrounding the form sheet. Additionally, the device includes adjustable means mounted on the diaphragm for grippingly engaging the outer form sheet, which means are operable to cause the outer form sheet to move relative to the diaphragm so the diameter of the outer form sheet may be varied. The support members may take the form of angle support members which are connected together in telescoping relationship and are telescopingly movable relative to one another to vary the diameter of the diaphragm. The adjustable means may include a plurality of supporting brackets mounted on the support members having substantially square apertures provided therein, a substantially square cross section rod having threaded corners extending through each aperture, means mounted on the end of each rod for gr-ippingly engaging the outer form sheet, and threaded means threaded onto each rod for engaging the associated bracket to maintain the rod in a desired position relative to the diaphragm which is threadable relative to the rod to cause the rod to move relative to the diaphragm so that the diameter of the outer form sheet may be varied relative to the diameter of the diaphragm.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the attached detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view illustrating apparatus utilized in the formation of a cylindrical structure such as a chimney column;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view corresponding to that shown in FIG. 1 wherein the apparatus is shown in a second position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention for use in the construction of a chimney column or the like;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a partial plan view corresponding to that shown in FIG. 4 showing the apparatus in a second position;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a view taken substantially along line 7-7 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of an angle support member utilized in apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a side plan view of the angle support member shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 1010 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line 1111 in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 12 shows a modified arrangement of support members which may be utilized in the apparatus of the present invention.

While the invention has been shown and will be described in some detail with reference to particular exemplary embodiments thereof, there is no intent-ion that it be limited to such detail. Quite to the contrary, it is intended here to embrace all modifications, alternatives and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. The invention is described herein in connection with the construction of chimney columns. However, it is to be understood that it is not limited to chimney columns but is readily adaptable to the construction of any cylindrical structure.

Referring now to the drawings, apparatus is shown which is constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention and which is utilizable in the construction of cylindrical structures such as chimney columns. In the formation of chimney columns, concrete is poured in vertical sections between an annular outer form sheet a and an annular inner form sheet 2%. Referring to FIG. 1, the chimney construction apparatus is shown in a position wherein a first section may be formed. The outer form sheet 20a is supported by a suitable lift rig 21 and a suitable supported inner form sheet Ztlb is constructed within the outer form sheet. Concrete 22 is poured between the form sheets to form a vertical section of the chimney. In order to allow for the pouring of concrete within the form sheets 20a and 20b to form subsequent vertical sections, the lift rig 21 is operated to raise the outer form sheet 20a (see FIG. 2) and the inner form sheet 20b is suitably built up. Since the details of the outer form sheet 20a and the inner form sheet 20b do not constitute a portion of the present invention, the details thereof will not be set forth. However, it may be seen by reference to FIG. 3 that the ends 20 and 20a" of the outer form sheet 26a are in overlapping relationship so that the diameter thereof may be varied.

In accordance with the present invention, new and improved means are provided for cooperating with the outer form sheet to control the diameter of the outer form sheet so that the diameter of the outer form sheet may be reduced as subsequent sections of a chimney are formed. For this purpose, a new and improved polygonal diaphragm 25 is provided which surrounds the outer form sheet 2% and means are associated with the diaphragm for controlling the diameter of the outer form sheet relative to the diameter of the diaphragm. The diaphragm 25 may be formed by connecting together a plurality of angle-support members 26 (see FIGS. 8l1). Each of the an gle-support members includes a first linear section 26a having a substantially square cross section and a second linear section 26b likewise having a substantially square cross section which is suitably secured to the first section 26a, such as by welding. For the purpose of allowing a section 26a of one angle-support member to be connected to section 26b of a second support member, the section 26b is adapted to telescopingly receive the section 26a as best seen in FIG. 11 and corresponding bolt holes 27 are provided in the support members. Thus, adjacent support members may be telescopingly positioned relative to one another and bolted together by bolts 28 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Moreover, since the sections 26b are adapted to telescopingly receive sections 26a and since a plurality of corresponding bolt holes 27 are provided in each section, it will be readily apparent that the angle-support sections 26 may be connected together to form a diaphragm having a desired diameter and that adjacent sections may be adjusted relative to each other to vary the diameter of the diaphragm. Thus, it will be readily apparent that the diameter of the diaphragm may be varied to aid in controlling the diameter of the outer form sheet 200. The diaphragm 25 is supported along with the outer form sheet 20a by the lift rig 21, which may take any suitable form.

In keeping with the present invention, new and improved means are provided for controlling the diameter of the outer form sheet 26a relative to the diameter of the diaphragm 25. Such means are best illustrated in FIGS. 4-7 and include a plurality of support brackets 39 which are suitably secured to the angle sections 26 forming the diaphragm 25, such as by bolts 31. As may be seen by reference to FIG. 7, each support bracket 30 is provided with a substantially rectangular aperture 30a which has enlarged corner sections 30b. For this latter purpose, circular holes are provided in the bracket 30 adjacent the corners of the aperture 30a which overlap the corners thereof. A substantially square support rod 32 which has threaded corners is extended through the aperture 30a in each support bracket 30 and has an adjusting casting or gripping member 33 secured to the end thereof for grippingly engaging a head strap 34 secured to the outer form sheet 20a. As may be seen, the cross-section of the rod 32 corresponds to the crosssection of the aperture Mia. It will be apparent that the diameter of the outer form sheet 20a may be varied relative to the diameter of the diaphragm 25 by moving the rod 32 associated with each support bracket 30 radially relative to the diaphragm 25. For this purpose, a pair of nuts 35a and 35b are threaded onto the rod 32 on opposite sides of the brackets 36.

When it is desired to lock each rod 32 in a desired position relative to the associated bracket 30, and thus when it is desired to lock the outer form sheet 20a in a desired position relative to the diaphragm 25, the associated bolts 35a and 35b are threaded into engagement with the support bracket 30 as viewed in FIG. 6. if, for example, it is desired to reduce the radius of the form sheet 20a relative to the radius of the diaphragm 25, the outer form sheet 20a must be driven to the right, as viewed in FIG. 6, with respect to the diaphragm 25. To accomplish this, the bolt 35a associated with each rod 32 is initially threaded to the left, as viewed in FIG. 6, a desired amount. The associated bolt 35b is then threaded in a corresponding direction which causes the rod 32 to be drawn to the right, as viewed in FIG. 6, until the bolt 35a engages the left-hand side of the associated bracket 30. On the other hand, if it is desired to increase the diameter of the outer form sheet 20a with respect to the diameter of the diaphragm 25, the outer form sheet must be driven to the left, as viewed in FIG. 6, with respect to the diaphragm. To accomplish this, the bolt 35b associated with each rod 32 is initially threaded to the right as viewed in FIG. 6. The associated bolt 35a is thereafter threaded in the same direction until the bolt 35b engages the right-hand side of the bracket 30, the rod 32 being drawn therewith to the left relative to the bracket 30.

In view of the foregoing, it will apparent that the dis closed apparatus allows for readily varying the diameter of the outer form sheet 20a relative to the diameter of the diaphragm 25 by merely threading the bolts 35a and 35b associated with each rod 32 in desired directions. Moreover, it will be apparent that the threads of the rod 32 will not be damaged during a chimney construction operation.

In present conventional apparatus of this type, threaded support rod corresponding to rods 32 are provided which have circular cross sections and which are received in circular apertures 30a of support brackets corresponding to brackets 30. During a chimney construction eperation, the support rods are oftentimes pivoted about the apertures in the associated support brackets and the threads on present conventional rods are damaged, With the apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention, such damage to the threads on the support rods is subsantially eliminated. This is true since the threads on each rod 32 are disposed adjacent the enlarged circular holds 30b at the corners of the aperture 30a in the associated support bracket 30. Consequently, only the fiat unthreaded portions of each rod 32 engage the side walls of the associated aperture 30a. It follows then that pivotal movement may be imparted to each rod 32 without damaging the threaded corners of the rod. In other words, when a force component is imparted to the rod 32 in a direction perpendicular to the rod, the rod will be caused to pivot about the associated aperture 30a but the threaded corners will not be damaged.

Since the rods 32 are limited in strength, the diameter of the outer form sheet 20a may only be varied relative to the diameter of the diaphragm 25 an amount determined by the length of the rods 32. However, in some chimney construction operations, the diameter of the outer form sheet 20a may have to be varied relative to the diameter of the diaphragm 25 a greater amount. To allow for varying the diameter of the outer form sheet 20a a greater amount, the diameter of the diaphragm 25 must be reduced at an intermediary position in the construction of a chimney, such as the position shown in FIG. 2.

Let it be assumed that the diameter of the outer form sheet a has been reduced relative to the diaphragm an amount limited by the rods 32 and it is desired to reduce the diameter of the diaphragm 25 to allow for further reducing the diameter of the outer form sheet 20a. Under such conditions, the rods 32 are initially driven to the left as viewed in FIG. 6. The diameter of the diaphragm 25 is then reduced by unbolting the sections 26a and 26b of adjacent angle-support members 26 and telescopingly moving the section 26a further into the section 26b, such as shown in FIG. 5, whereat the sections are again bolted together. Since the bolts 31 for securing the brackets to support members 26 extend therethrough, it will be apparent that the amount that sections 26a and 26b of adjacent support members may be telescopingly adjusted without removal of the bolts 31 is limited by the positions of the brackets. As may be seen by reference to FIG. 4, the brackets 30 are positioned on the sections 26:: and 26b such that the section 26a of one member may be telescopingly moved into the section 26b of the adjacent member a distance equal to the distance between adjacent bolt holes 27 without requiring that the bolts 31 and thus the brackets 30 be removed. For further adjustment to a position such as shown in FIG. 5, the bolts 31 must be removed until the sections 26a and26b are in desired relative positions.

Since present conventional apparatus utilized for this purpose employs an annular diaphragm which is deformed or distorted during an outer form sheet reducing operation, it will be readily apparent that the polygonal diaphragm constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention allows for much more flexibility. More specifically, the polygonal diaphragm is not deformed or distorted during a chimney construction operation, due to the inherent strength characteristics thereof as compared to an annular diaphragm, and allows for reducing the diameter thereof. Thus the polygonal diaphragm allows for further reducing the diameter of the outer form sheet 20a beyond that attainable only with adjustment of rods 32.

In those applications wherein even greater flexibility is required, a linear support member 36 may be interposed between adjacent angle-support members 26 as shown in FIG. 12. As may be seen, the exemplary linear support member 36 includes a first section 3601 corresponding to section 26a of the angle-support member and a second section 3612 corresponding to section 26b of the anglesupport member.

In many applications of this type, it has been found that the outer form sheet Zita may be reduced in diameter a sufl'lcient amount to provide the desired chimney taper by only adjusting the positions of the rods 32 relative to the brackets 30 and/or by adjusting the telescoping position of adjacent sections 26a and 26/) an amount equal to the distance between adjacent bolt holts 27. Thus, in many applications, the chimney may be constructed without requiring the removal of the bolts 31 to allow for greater telescoping of the diaphragm 25 as shown in FIG. 5.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for positioning an annular outer form sheet in the construction of a chimney column or the like, wherein the form sheet has an adjustable diameter, which comprises a plurality of support members connected together to form a polygonal diaphragm surrounding the form sheet, a plurality of brackets mounted on the support members and having square apertures provided therein, a square cross-section rod extending through each aperture and having threaded corners, means mounted on the end of each rod for engaging the form sheet, and threaded means associated with each rod for maintaining the rod in a desired position relative to the associated bracket and operable to cause the rod to be moved relative to the bracket so that the diameter of the form sheet may be varied.

2. A device for positioning an annular outer form sheet in the construction of a chimney column or the like, wherein the form sheet has an adjustable diameter, which comprises a plurality of support members connected together to form a polygonal diaphragm surrounding the form sheet, a plurality of brackets mounted on the support members and having substantially square apertures formed therein with enlarged corners, a square cross-section rod extending through each aperture and having threaded corners, means mounted on the end of each rod for engaging the form sheet, and a pair of threaded members threaded onto each rod on opposite sides of the associated bracket for engaging the bracket to maintain the rod in a desired position relative to the bracket and being threadable relative to the rod to cause the rod to be moved relative to the bracket so that the diameter of the form sheet may be varied.

3. A device for positioning an annular outer form sheet in the construction of a chimney column or the like, wherein the form sheet has an adjustable diameter, said device comprising a plurality of angle-support members adjustably connected together in telescoping relationship to form a polygonal diaphragm surrounding the form sheet and being movable relative to one another to vary the diameter of the diaphragm, means including substantially square adjustable rods mounted on the support members and in operative engagement with the form sheet, means on said support members for preventing the rotation of said rods relative to said support members, and means for maintaining the rods in desired axial positions relative to the diaphragm and operable to move the form sheet relative to the diaphragm so that the diameter of the form sheet may be varied with respect to the diameter of the diaphragm.

4. A device for positioning an annular outer form sheet in the construction of a chimney column or the like, wherein the form sheet has an adjustable diameter, said device comprising a plurality of angle-support members, each angle-support member having a pair of arms mounted in fixed angular relationship with respect to each other, the arms of adjacent angle-support members being adjustably connected together in telescoping relationship to form a polygonal diaphragm surrounding the form sheet and being telescopingly movable relative to one another to vary the diameter of the diaphragm, and adjustable means mounted on and extending from each arm of each member into engagement with the form sheet and being operable to cause the form sheet to be moved relative to the diaphragm so that the diameter of the form sheet may be varied relative to the diameter of the diaphragm.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein linear support members extend between and operatively connect at least some of said adjacent angle-support member arms, each linear support member having a pair of arms connected together in telescoping relationship.

6. The structure of claim 4 wherein said angle-support member arms are tubular.

7. The structure of claim 6 wherein said tubular arms are substantially rectangular in transverse cross section.

8. The structure of claim 6 wherein said tubular arms are substantially square in transverse cross section.

9. The structure of claim 6 wherein each of said anglesupport member arms carries at least one bracket thereon, each bracket having a substantially square aperture with enlarged corners formed therein, and said adjustable means includes a pluraltiy of substantially square rods operatively connected to the form sheet, each rod having threaded corners and extending through for axial sliding movement within a respective bracket aperture, and a pair of threaded members threaded onto each of said rods on opposite sides of the corresponding support member for bracket maintaining the rod in a desired position relative to the bracket and being threadable relative to the '7 rod to cause the rod to move axially within the aperture of said support member bracket.

1'9. The structure of claim 9 wherein said brackets are pivotally mounted on said angle-support member arms so that said rods may be maintained in radial alignment with respect to said diaphragm.

11. A device for positioning an annular outer form sheet in the construction of a chimney column or the like, the form sheet having an adjustable diameter, said device comprising a plurality of support members connected together to form a polygonal diaphragm surrounding the form sheet, portions of each of said support members being apertured, a plurality of adjustment members in operative engagement with said form sheet, each adjustment member having portions of the outer surface thereof threaded and portions unthreaded, each adjustment member extending through a respective aperture in one of said support members with the aperture-defining portions of the support member engaging only unthreaded portions thereof, and adjustment means in engagement with the threaded portions of said adjustment member and with the support member for maintaining the adjusment member in a desired position relative to the support member and operable to cause the adjustment member to move relative to the support member, whereby the form sheet may be moved relative to the diaphragm and the diameter of the form sheet may be varied relative to the diameter of the diaphragm.

12. The structure of claim 11 wherein each of said support members comprises a pair of tubular arms mounted in fixed angular relationship with respect to each other, and a plurality of brackets pivotally mounted on each of said arms, each of said brackets being apertured to accommodate a respective one of said adjustment members, the arms of adjacent support members being adjustably connected together in telescoping relationship.

13. The structure of claim 11 wherein the threaded and unthreaded portions of said adjustment members are longitudinally coextensive over the length of adjustment of said adjustable member.

14. The structure of claim 11 wherein said support members have substantially square apertures with enlarged corners formed therein and said adjustment members comprise substantially square rods each having threaded corners extending through a respective aperture in the support member, the relative dimensions of the support member aperture and of the square rod being such that said rod is prevented from rotating relative to said support member.

15. The structure of claim 11 wherein said adjustment means for maintaining the adjustment member at desired position relative to the support member and for moving the adjustment member relative to the support member, comprises a pair of threaded members threaded onto the rod on opposite sides of the support member for engagement with the support member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,229,163 6/1917 Stieler 25-124 1,435,488 11/1922 McGregor 25-124 1,442,294 1/1923 Polk 25-124 1,549,392 8/1925 Stieler 25-124 1,670,339 5/1928 Butterworth 249-49 1,719,664 7/1929 Ligon 28-62 2,048,253 7/1936 Freyssinet 25-118 2,850,309 9/1958 Grover 287-62 3,045,313 7/1962 Dorn 25-124 WILLIAM J. STEPHENSON, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,363,874 January 16, 1968 Clarence A. Dennis It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below Column 3 line 18 for "20 read 20a column 4 line 37, after "will" insert be column 5, line 57, for "holts" read holes column 6, line 74, for "for bracket" read bracket for column 8, line 30 for "28-62" read 281-62 Signed and sealed this 25th day of February 1969.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr. EDWARD J. BRENNER Atteeting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A DEVICE FOR POSITIONING AN ANNULAR OUTER FORM SHEET IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A CHIMNEY COLUMN OR THE LIKE, WHEREIN THE FORM SHEET HAS AN ADJUSTABLE DIAMETER, WHICH COMPRISES A PLURALITY OF SUPPORT MEMBERS CONNECTED TOGETHER TO FORM A POLYGONAL DIAPHRAGM SURROUNDING THE FORM SHEET, A PLURALITY OF BRACKETS MOUNTED ON THE SUPPORT MEMBERS AND HAVING SQUARE APERTURES PROVIDED THEREIN, A SQUARE CROSS-SECTION ROD EXTENDING THROUGH EACH APERTURE AND HAVING THREADED CORNERS, MEANS MOUNTED ON THE END OF EACH ROD FOR ENGAGING THE FORM SHEET, AND THREADED MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH EACH ROD FOR MAINTAING THE ROD IN A DESIRED POSITION RELATIVE TO THE ASSOCIATED BRACKET AND OPERABLE TO CAUSE THE ROD TO BE MOVED RELATIVE TO THE BRACKET SO THAT THE DIAMETER OF THE FORM SHEET MAY BE VARIED. 